What to feed my orchids?

[OrchidTraci]

Now I am *really* confused. I read somewhere to feed Orchids a stable (ie: 20-20-20) food. But I read elsewhere to feed them something different for blooms, but I cannot remember which of the 3 numbers had to be higher. What exactly is a bloom booster anyways? Does it 'force' blooms, or help them last longer?

[LJA]

The first number stands for the amount of Nitrogen which contributes to foliage and root growth. The second number stands for the amount of Phosphorous, which promotes spiking and flowering, and the third number stands for the amount of Potash, which gives the plant vigor and helps it combat disease.

So it's the second number that's higher on fertilizers sold as "bloom boosters." The increased amount of Phosphorus stimulates the plant to produce flowers, but it doesn't make the flowers last any longer. And it won't "force" a plant to bloom if the plant isn't already getting ready to do that of its own accord. What it will do is is make the blooms larger, make buds develop faster and more profusely on a spike, and make the spikes generally longer and somewhat thicker.

We use it only once plants have already initiated their spikes or sheaths.

Hope that helped!

[OrchidTraci]

Originally posted by lja
The first number stands for the amount of Nitrogen which contributes to foliage and root growth. The second number stands for the amount of Phosphorous, which promotes spiking and flowering, and the third number stands for the amount of Potash, which gives the plant vigor and helps it combat disease.

So it's the second number that's higher on fertilizers sold as "bloom boosters." The increased amount of Phosphorus stimulates the plant to produce flowers, but it doesn't make the flowers last any longer. And it won't "force" a plant to bloom if the plant isn't already getting ready to do that of its own accord. What it will do is is make the blooms larger, make buds develop faster and more profusely on a spike, and make the spikes generally longer and somewhat thicker.

We use it only once plants have already initiated their spikes or sheaths.

Hope that helped!

Where is a sheath on a plant? Sorry if this sounds silly. You know me, full of questions.....

[LJA]

No, not silly at all. Have you ever grown a cattleya? They bloom from where new-growth leaves join the pseudobulb. The buds form inside a thin, living "wrapper" which grows out from the leaf first. The wrapper is called a sheath. When the buds are developed enough (and everything has gone according to "plan"--ahem--), the buds split the sheath and mature, to finally open.